The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a highly destructive invasive insect, killing an estimated 50 to 100 million ash trees in Canada and the United States. EAB was first discovered in the U.S., near Detroit, MI in 2002 but is thought to have been introduced to the area several years prior to detection. Since its introduction, a significant amount of time and resources have been devoted to the detection and control of EAB. Despite these efforts, EAB is now distributed throughout 18 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Ontario and Quebec Canada. EAB has the potential to infest ash throughout its entire native range. In addition, funding for managing EAB in the U.S. has been reduced. In the face of budget constraints, managers need tools to help prioritize EAB surveillance and treatment areas.
The Emerald Ash Borer Risk Assessment and Sampling Design project provides an objective and transparent process for selecting EAB trap locations. The goal of the project is to: 1) increase the number of successful EAB detections beyond the known infested area, 2) improve land managers capability to detect EAB closer to the date of a new attack, and 3) to find locations that are best suited to implement controls. The following products were developed by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team in co-operation with APHIS PPQ.
Photo by: David Cappaert, Michigan State University